Kraftwerk / 3-D: The Catalogue box sets

Parlophone are releasing Kraftwerk: 3-D The Catalogue next month, an audio/video document – available in a number of physical editions – that features all eight albums as performed live in the leading museums of the world in the last few years.
This set – which is available as a deluxe blu-ray box set, vinyl box, and CD set – features the eight classic Kraftwerk albums in chronological order: Autobahn (1974), Radio-Activity (1975), Trans Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), Computer World (1981), Techno Pop (1986), The Mix (1991) and Tour De France (2003) – filmed and recorded between 2012 and 2016 on the band’s 3-D World Tour. The locations include MoMA (New York), The Tate Modern Turbine Hall (London), Akasaka Blitz (Tokyo), Opera House (Sydney), Norske Opera (Oslo), Paradiso (Amsterdam), Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris) and Neue National Galerie (Berlin).

The 12 x 12-inch Deluxe Blu-Ray/Book edition features four Blu-Ray discs and a 236-page hardback art-book containing computer generated images from the 3-D multi-media performances alongside a selection of unseen photos. Two blu-rays cover the album performances, the other two discs contain tour films and projections. Everything is 3D but compatible with standard 2D. These all have Dolby Atmos 5.1 audio too, if you’re amp is compatible! The total running time is 436 minutes.

The nine-LP deluxe vinyl box set has the eight albums (The Mix being a double) as performed across the world and mixed by Kraftwerk, who say the sound quality is “peerless”. An eight-CD box set mirrors the vinyl package, but is considerably cheaper.

If all this is too much, then abriged 77-minute versions are available on two-LP vinyl and on both discs of a blu-ray+DVD combo pack

186 responses to Kraftwerk / 3-D: The Catalogue box sets

Probably too late to this thread for anyone to see or care, but I just received the set as a gift. It’s a lovely package, but it’s hard not to feel like they’re milking this thing to the nth degree:

1. Including 2 full presentations–1 “concert”, and 1 “film”–is a bit disingenuous. As it is, the concert is probably 75% just the films anyway. I don’t mind that they decided to highlight the visuals for long stretches, but it kind of makes the “film” discs moot.

2. Add to that, the 4 discs come in a small package that’s housed inside the giant box, along with a big hardcover book of various visuals from the shows, and a few of their typical “robots on location” photos. Fine and all, but it seems to me that it would have been easy to come up with a 2-disc version without the big box and book, for probably 1/4 the price. Even a 4-disc one without the full package would have been welcome. Instead, I’ve got another giant box to try and find room for.

Oh well. The mastering is beautifully done, at any rate. And I may decide to spring for the audio download, even knowing it doesn’t offer much that’s new.

I ordered the German-language 8cd box set, but jpc.de just returned my payment, stating “vergriffen, keine Neuauflage” (deleted, no new pressing). Seems strange for a new, non-limited item. I know the ‘Radioactivity’ disc is the English-language version by accident. So maybe it was recalled. But then again, no new batch? Of course Kraftwerk themselves remain silent. Anyone got more info?

I encountered some technical difficulties with the 4-Bluray set. After every section of the discs(2 to 3 songs) when the video fades to black, your A/V Receiver or A/V processor must re-identify the format of the incoming audio bitstream(I.E. Dolby True HD), and it takes anywhere from 3 to 10 seconds into the first song of that section for my equipment to identify the audio format. Occasionally, my A/V processor totally fails to identify the format of the incoming audio bitstream, and I must repeatedly use the “Skip back” or “Scan back” buttons to go back to the start of the chapter before i can finally hear the audio. The issue doesn’t affect the video, so it is not an HDMI “Handshake” issue. Fortunately, my Blu-ray player also has 7.1 analog audio outputs and my A/V processor has 7.1 analog inputs, so(for now) playing the audio by analog connection enables me to bypass the problem with the discs.
Hopefully, if other consumers experience this problem, Warner Music will create corrected discs.

I dont like audience noises on live recordings so I’m very pleased with the direction they have chosen…. If most people did some research before buying they would know the most facts, its a collectors box, I was fan for 35 years and I will be fan in the future, I have seen there last live show in Antwerp Belgium and I was mindblown so this box with the recordings on vinyl is a very nice souvenir and memory of a fantastic night for me…. The only thing I miss is that lovely photobook….

Most pointless Kraftwerk release ever. Why make “live” recordings at the MOMA when they want audience reactions to disturb their precious Sound?
Why put the exact Versions from CD 1 to 6 on CD 7 (The Mix) therefore featuring one new track (Expo)?
Why shorten classic tracks like Europe Endless from over 9 minutes to slightly over 5 minutes? Autobahn 8 minutes short. It’s more fun to compute condensed to less than 2 minutes.
Why Charge Money for 8 CDs when the whole bunch doesn’t Need more than 4 (only 3 when you leave out The Mix)?
I was a fan for 40 years. I am no longer.

Today I got the box and I’m really disappointed: the book (except 5/6 photos) is exaggerently made of video-live photos. The blu ray has a very static direction with their 4 ever in the foreground. Static Frames. The other two BDs are just live (without their 4) movie … Exaggerated price and artistic value of the work (in my opinion) quite disappointing

I don’t own it yet because I’m still confused… is the 2 dvd/2 blue ray also in the box set? or is the box set FULL VIDEO of entire albums? I know the blue ray box is full albums in audio 5.1, but just not sure what live video performance content (other than backing films) is different in the box vs. the $23 dvd/blu ray video. if the box has a full video concert of each full album, then maybe it’s worth it, but if it’s the same live video performance as the 2dvd then I will probably go for that. the book and backing films don’t make it worth it. or, is the atmos just for the box or does 2dvd-blue have atmos too? would think so.

Today i got the 4 discs blu ray edition, the amount of glitches / problems in the blu rays are just unbelievable , from cuts to high pitch glitches that will fuck your tweeters if you are playing it to loud, sometimes the blu ray goes crazy between 3d and 2d (I tested it in 4 different blu ray units).
I played STEREO 3d and 2d, the problems is present in both…

I’d preordered the UK BluX4 box at £104 and the German CD Box too. Some things didn’t sit well with me. I’d bought the MINIMUM MAXIMUM DVD Notebook set at a discount back in the day, and I’ve gotten my money’s worth because it gets a lot of play, but that had everything I’d need – the video and the audio CDs. Here, I was forced to make decisions to pay too much because no one set gave a full experience. Any one set would’ve been compromised and I was being strongarmed into getting at least two versions. I deliberated whether I should cancel the CDs and pay three times as much for the vinyl with download codes, since neither had a premium book and I’d be more inclined to play vinyl than CD discs. I wouldn’t have considered either of these if the blu-ray set had download code or the audio CDs like the previous live set. I wanted to be able to play the music regularly but dip into the video occasionally. In the end, listening to how little the band has advanced since MM and considering how inauthentic the performance was (not really playing anything) borne out by the interchangeability of the footage on the disc, I cancelled both pre orders in the last couple days. Even though I had appeared to be saving £30 with my preorder price, it’s still £50 more than I want to pay for a couple of useful video discs that will get only a few plays. I’m taking a punt this will appear as an SDE Price Drop in the near future and I’ll get it at some point when the price is more reasonable. And I say that as a huge fan of Kraftwerk and not a casual music buyer.

Juandiaz’s review on Amazon UK is poor and does not contribute much.
I am waiting to receive the 4 BDs and I will do a detailed review on my website http://www.altadefinicionhd.com and also on Amazon. I will analyze the disks in this room: http://www.altadefinicionhd.com/salas-de-analisis/sala-1
I think it is very important to talk about the quality of the image, 3D and multichannel sound, especially Dolby Atmos.
I look forward to receiving this box.
By the way, my order on Amazon UK does not indicate any delay in the departure, scheduled for May 26.
Greetings.

Anything video related that was scheduled to be released soon has disappeared…from all the retailers. Just another typical delay. This better be worth it as I cancelled other box sets in favor of this one.

Sir,
Can someone clarify for me or point to a link for more info about Dolby Atmos and especually what is the 3-D CD headphone version (blu-ray I do get the 5.1 set-up). But the the 3D headphone versions, what equipment is needed (special heaphones, which are best?) A decoded headphone preamp? and finally a special CD player? Thank you if someone can illuminate a poor soul still living in a boring stereo world made of cassettes, vinyls, and plain CDs. Thank You

Glad the set should reappear on Amazon as the Blu-ray/book set, I was concerned this was somehow a limited edition and had sold out (I had it added to my ‘list’ on Amazon but hadn’t pulled the trigger on a pre-order as yet – a pesky dental procedure got in the way!). Hopefully it’ll be back there for the ‘normal’ pre-order price soon.

After missing out on the Radiohead ‘OK Computer’ blue vinyls, I didn’t want to miss this too!

This may be a silly question, but is the Deluxe Blu-Ray actual Video footage of the concerts? Or just Audio only?
Also, I don’t suppose there is any knowledge of Region Coding? Can we assume it’s Region B and therefore not viewable outside of Europe?

Amazon.co.uk describes all DVD & Blu-ray discs as region coded, unless they are absolutely certain that they aren’t. Music related video programs are often “all region”, but if you are concerned about this, buy a modified “code-free” Blu-ray player. I’ve got two of them. Do a search on the internet for “code-free” DVD & Blu-ray players.
The Kraftwerk Blu-ray box will be manufactured centrally for the entire world, so will. in all likelyhood be “all Regions”.

The Blu Ray box set is back on Amazon. I did put a link to it before my last post but for some reason that has not appeared. Anyway, it’s on Amazon but for a ridiculous price. My order still shows £104.26. Hopefully I’ll get it for that.

Kraftwerk concerts performed in Germany do, as you would expect, have the German lyrics rather than the English lyrics for those songs originally recorded in both.

Tour de France tracks performed in France are the same as on the album, a mix of French and English.

Trans Europe Express performed at Tate Modern included the line ” … meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie … ”

I received a rather long, garbled and somewhat confusing email from Amazon yesterday advising, ” … rest be assured that the item would be delivered in the month of May”. (This was in reference to a Blu Ray box set ordered on 21 April).

I’m assuming all CD albums are performed in English? – or was Tour De France performed in Paris and sung in French – and the album performed in Berlin sung in German (surely)? Ideally would be great to have them all performed in their native German? (I have the 12″x12″ 8 CD box set of the original albums which are all sung in English). Can’t seem to find any more detailed information anywhere. And what’s going on with the Bluray box set?
Any ideas Paul? Anyone?

I have been talking to an amazon UK representative and he has told me the following::
“I checked and see that this item is not published in UK. Hence it was removed from our website. You no need to worry about this.
As you placed thee order to your Spain address, we will dispatch it from our neighboring fulfillment center outside the country and deliver it to you as promised.
The ASIN is not published in UK . Hence we have removed it. Once it is published, it will be added to our website.”
Just in case, I have placed the order in France, where the box with 4 BDs and the book is already available.

You may find that if the listing for the Blu-ray boxed set ever re-appears, that the price will be at least double what it previously was, putting the set out of reach for many people. One U.S.A. dealer who is still accepting preorders is asking USD$256. At that price, forget it.

Paul there’s nothing in the bluray and book deluxe version links? is this part of the superdeluxe gremlins you’ve been talking about recently?… by the way, the amount of information from superdeluxeedtion manages to fleece me everytime!

I thought they had disappeared from Amazon while the listing was changed but of course this is Kraftwerk so a delay as mentioned by Tom M would come as no surprise, although Amazon are still telling me that my order will arrive between 31 May – 2 June.

I seem to recall that the Blu Ray release was first mention in 2015 and we were told they would be out ” … in the autumn..”

Aaarrrggghhh… I have so many copies of these songs: old vinyl, first release CDs, remastered CD box set, separate remastered vinyl… I just can’t justify the cash but oh boy it looks good!!! I know if I more cash I’d have hit that pre-order immediately.

The link for the Blu Ray box set shown above no longer takes you to the Amazon listing for “The Catalogue 3D (DVD Audio)” as previously but to an Amazon message saying, “We’re sorry. The Web address you’ve entered is not a functioning page on our site”.

Been waiting a long time for a box so I didn’t buy any of the remastered vinyl.
Now I wonder if I should get these live versions? Will they be very different from the albums considering it’s Kraftwerk and it’s all programmed and not a live rock recording from a pop/rock band?
Or should I stick to the original albums on remastered vinyl?

Having listened to the 3D Robots track on Spotify and seen the promo video for the boxset – they all sound like remixed/re-recorded versions of all the classic albums – doesn’t seem to be any audience sound on them like the Minimum/Maximum set a few years ago… strange?

I see that some people are disappointed these live albums do not necessarily include every album track played in full. Personally, I think that this probably a good thing. Live concerts usually benefit ( and always have) from reworking both running order and track length/ arrangement. If not, then for me, yovu might as well just play the original.

When I click on the link for the deluxe Blu-ray + book box, amazon.co.uk lists the format as “DVD-Audio”. While I am equiped to play DVD-audio & Blu-ray-audio formats, I am waiting for definite correct information from Amazon before ordering.

Great value for the BD/DVD combo. Shows what can be achieved for a multi-disk set without going into £40+ markup. Well done Kraftwerk, at that price I will probably get it as an electronic music fan rather than one of the band.

It`s gonna be the CD box and the DVD/Bluray set for me. I don`t even own all the studio albums* but I reckon I`m gonna fill the blanks in with the remastered L.P.s which are reported to be superior to the CDs.
*I`ve had `Trans-Europe Express` on L.P. since the day of release. Despite my favourite albums originating from analogue source this album is in there with the best of them.

A friend of mine asked if this was a ‘stop gap’ release while the new album is being finished off – ahh, to be that optimistic. As someone who missed out on them live this year (although I saw them in 2004), I’ll be getting the Bluray set of this – it’s not like Kraftwerk release stuff regularly, is it???

Fritz and Henning have been in Kraftwerk since 1991, longer than Bartos and Flur. They also contribute more to the group in terms of sound than you might give them credit for. It’s too bad they’ve only released 1 album of new material and 1 studio EP in the last 26 years, though. But they refine the group’s sound over and over, slowly… but it is no mere tribute to past glory, imo.

Anyhow, novelty can be overrated. Just think of how many people complain when their favorite old artists focus more on new material than the “favorites,” too.

That said, Ralf is a perfectionist, and I hope someday he’ll finally be ready to release the next album before he turns 75.

Just noticed that the audio material is listed on Amazon’s digital music store. The price for the whole set (audio only, mind you) is $37.99 American. The tracklists for each “disc” are also abbreviated, as some tracks appear to be a combination or medley of songs. So the Autobahn album is just two tracks: the title track, and a second track that comprises the other 4 instrumental tracks.

Interesting and a good price. I do wonder why Kraftwerk continue to trade on their past when former bandmate Karl Bartos is happy putting out great new stuff (although even he re-released his 2003 album ‘Communication’ in 2016!)

I’m off to play my original German copy of ‘Radio-Activity’ and plan where next I’m going to stick one of those yellow ‘nuclear’ stickers…

Bartos released one album in recent memory. It’s not like he’s been prolific. It was good, but also derivative of Kraftwerk in theme, imagery and content, and not up to their standard on the whole. I am glad to have it, but I think the only reason that album got some attention was for trading on Kraftwerk’s past.

Karl Bartos (co-composer of Kraftwerk’s most famous songs) has released FOUR albums of all-new material since leaving the group. Elektric Music: Esperanto (1993), Electric Music (1998), Communication (2003), and Off The Record (2013). Wolfgang Flur even released two post-Kraftwerk albums, Yamo: Time Pie (1997) and Eloquence (2015). Ralf and Florian only managed to release one new album (Tour De France Soundtracks, 2003) and one new single (Expo2000, 1999) in all that time, but many, many reissues, remasters, and rehashes like this box set. I wonder if Ralf’s ultimate goal is to replace the original albums with these new “3-D Catalogue” versions…?

Still waiting for Kraftwerk to release a “Singles Collection” with all their 7″ singles, because some of their tracks are really long, like Auto-Bahn, which I love, but would like a proper “best Of” collection with all their singles.

Well, Amazon.de are advertising Der Katalog 3D CD and vinyl as well as the individual German language tracks so I suppose there will be both German and English language versions as there was with The Catalogue / Der Katalog CD box set from 2009.

I imagine the DVD / Blu Ray will just have an option to choose which audio language you listen to, the music track will be exactly the same regardless.

I’ve heard recordings of all of the catalogue concerts, and while some songs are sadly truncated (Mitternacht, Morgenspaziergang, and to even Metal on Metal/Abzug have all been shortened, which is disappointing). They have not cut any album tracks from performance altogether, though. I think some of the titles here are not mentioned if they are transitional tracks, like the ones that are really an extension of another song (like Aerodynamik).

Sigh… poorer already
I don’t know if Paul will mind but I have hopelessly out of print sealed copies of the SACD sets that they put out. I won’t post my email because I’d like to see what Paul says first. If it’s OK I have a 2 SACD set of the north american and 2 extra copies of the ‘GSA’ german edition
They’re selling over 600 pounds for new sealed copies. I could do better without going through eBay or Amazon. I have extra copies of all kinds of stuff and I stupidly never sell any of it but if they keep coming out with all this great new material, I’ll have to subsidize it somehow.!

Desperately tried to get a ticket to see Man-Machine, Trans Europe Express or ComputerWorld here in the UK and failed miserably (I did see the on the original ComputerWorld tour in Brighton and on the Mix tour in Brixton).

If I was feeling richer I’d probably pick up the vinyl or CD set but…

To be honest I kind of agree with the ‘enough of the retreads, let’s have some new material’ sentiment.

Oh I seem to recall seeing them at the Royal Festival Hall where I think they had some 3D content on show as well. I think that was the Tour De France Soundtracks tour.
The Minimum Maximum live releases of the time captures the concerts very well.
So definitely enough Kraftwerk live for me – I’m out!

Terrific news!
Kraftwerk fans have been waiting ages for this. I was lucky enough to see half the Tate Modern shows and have been looking forward to this ever since. Just hope it doesn’t get delayed / postponed.

Also–no option for Blu-ray with CDs? Instead, you need to spend another $50? Ugh. If that’s the case, I hope the audio will be available on iTunes. No need for 2 big boxes. Just seems silly, since we’re getting the video with audio, that there’s not a (legal, easy) way to just take the audio to go.

On the other hand, releasing this deluxe live set 10 years after their last live set, with no new albums to show for it, is kind of lame. Other than the 3D effects and some variations on the arrangements, it’s not like they’re known for spontaneity or unique performances.

Being in Chicago, I didn’t get to see on of the “full album” performances, but I really dug the 3D show I saw of theirs a few years back.

I know. My two favourite bands and there hasn’t been much work lately. I’ll probably first get the Kraftwerk as it’s more unique. Already have about every format so far and have many configurations of Pepper.

Well, honestly I’m slightly disappointed because the only way to see all the videos/projections is with a Bluray player, that I don’t own.
On the DVD there is just a selection of tracks that I already know, having seen them twice in 3D shows: what I really wanted to see is the visuals of less-known tracks like “Morgenspaziergang”, “Antenna”, etc., and those are only on the 4-Bluray box.

Buy a Blu ray for this? It’s 2017 not 1999 Blu ray players are starting about £15. I got one in 2009 and a Blu ray recorder in 2013. Never looked back. Can’t wait to see them on my 2nd hand Sony 4K Ultra HD 3D TV. You stick with you DVD’s lol

This is excellent but “The Catalogue” seems to be Kraftwerk’s equivalent to Waters’ “The Wall”.
Enough of those eight albums! Remaster the first three!
How about an album of new material?
Enough nostalgia, Ralf.
To be honest, I was more excited when I heard Florian’s “Stop Plastic Pollution”.

With this and the 8 disc Brain Records box set just recently released, it’s going to be an expensive time for fans of all things Krautrock.
I’m also still hoping that Ralf Hutter will find time to remaster and release the first 3 Kraftwerk albums (plus the Tone Float LP).

Fantastic. I am going to see their 3D show later this year, but to get all eight albums in 3D is truly unexpected. The only downside is that I can’t really justify getting the vinyl as well. I KNEW getting a 3D TV was a good investment.

I went to the eight shows in Oslo last year and they did alternate versions of some songs in English and German for the different sets (e.g. one show The Model would be in English the next show it would be in German). Suppose it will depend what versions they ultimately chose?

I’m wondering if there will be a difference between the two Versions at all…
I mean “3D Der Katalog” and “3D The Catalogue” – there are only 8 concerts to follow – and those are surely not completely in two versions. Guess this edition will not have any differences for the German- and the International-Version. If there are some – they must have edited the voice-content in post production. Quite thrilled to listen to the live performances – if they match the “Minimum/Maximum” Quality…
The performances will be in both languages of course and mixing the style of both benefits.

Utter nonsense from you both. Stupid comment of the day. It’s also 2017 not 1989 and the 2nd and 3rd members have been there 26 years EACH. The 4th member who ultimately replaces Florian who CHOSE to leave in 2008 and ONLY does visuals in the live performances. We’ve actually lucky 46 years on to still have Kraftwerk. Ralf’s 70 you know?

Oh my God…the Holy Grail for Kraftwerk fans (apart from a new album). I’ve already ordered the deluxe box set. 3D sound and vision – what’s not to like? Dolby Atmos too….my head may explode! Just a shame there’s no 4K UHD version but then it couldn’t be 3D I guess. Awesome news!

Again writers’s block or what despite him publicly saying new material coming up (past about 10 years!). So far again only modifying copyrights to gain mo’money. No new works for over 30 years apart of one again bicyling (Tour de France) inspired works for being knowingly his fixation as a hobby.

Ralf definitely is a business man. From Dusseldorf. As usual. Been there (many times), done that.

The 3D sound is a ‘Psychoacoustic effect’, or perception, as opposed to actual surround sound via headphones. Believe it or not, the effect is more pronounced when listening through headphones!!! Strange I know, but I promised you, very, very, true! Please don’t be skeptical, I promise you, you WILL love it!!!
Hope this answers your query